SECTION 3.4 NIV

MAIN IDEA If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, our faith would be worth nothing. But because Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose again, when we trust in Him as our Savior, we are saved from sin. We also have the sure hope that when we die, He will raise us up and give us new bodies so we can live forever in heaven with Him. NIV

MEMORY VERSES 1 CORINTHIANS 15:19-20 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. NIV

Share what you wrote about or drew in Start Here. INTRODUCTION Share what you wrote about or drew in Start Here. NIV

Do we always get the things we hope for here on earth? INTRODUCTION Do we always get the things we hope for here on earth? Does anyone know the difference between hoping for something like a toy and the hope we have when we trust Jesus Christ as our Savior? What is it? NIV

MAIN LESSON 1. Without the resurrection our faith is worthless and we would still have to be punished for our sins. NIV

MAIN LESSON 1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. NIV

MAIN LESSON 2. Because Christ died and rose to life, He will also raise us to life one day with a new, perfect body that will never die. NIV

MAIN LESSON 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. NIV

MAIN LESSON 3. We know that if we trust Christ as Savior, we will live forever in heaven just as God promises. NIV

MAIN LESSON 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignor-ant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. NIV

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, continued MAIN LESSON 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, continued According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the NIV

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, continued MAIN LESSON 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, continued voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. NIV

MAIN LESSON 4. We can rejoice in the hope that we have because of Christ’s resurrection. We have the sure hope of heaven someday and we have help and power from Christ to live our lives on earth. NIV

MAIN LESSON John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.” NIV

MAIN LESSON 2 Corinthians 13:4 For to be sure, He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in Him, yet by God's power we will live with Him to serve you. NIV

FAITH IN ACTION What is the difference between hoping for earthly things and the hope we receive after we trust Jesus Christ as our Savior? NIV

2. How does this change the way we handle different situations like: FAITH IN ACTION 2. How does this change the way we handle different situations like: • A friend from church moving far away? • You are unhappy at school or at home? • You feel like you do not have any friends? • A relative or a friend who has trusted in Jesus as Savior dies? NIV

SUM IT UP Without the resurrection our faith is worthless and we would still have to be punished for our sins. NIV

SUM IT UP Because Christ died and rose to life, He will also raise us to life one day with a new, perfect body that will never die. NIV

SUM IT UP We know that if we trust Christ as Savior, we will live forever in heaven just as God promises. NIV

SUM IT UP We can rejoice in the hope that we have because of Christ’s resurrection. We have the sure hope of heaven someday and we have help and power from Christ to live our lives on earth. NIV

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